Don Shumacher passed away

[Stu Twin]

I think this is current...
Mopar & drag racing legend.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a4 ... ies-at-79/

[Blue]

Paula Murphy too. There were both here in ‘73 with their funny cars which stayed in the UK.

[Jim]

Paula Murphy too. There were both here in ‘73 with their funny cars which stayed in the UK.

I was there when their cars arrived at Santa Pod. Stardust had Pan Am Air Freight shipping documents still on the car.
Don Schumacher and Paula Murphy put on a fantastic show.

[Jim]

When Don Schumacher made his first run in Stardust the crowd went wild, but it was all over so quick. He was used to lining up waiting for his turn, quick burn out, stage, and go. The track owner, Bob Phelps, had to ask him to take as long as he likes and make a show of it… UK fans had never seen anything like it before This was the first professional American Funny car ever seen in the UK.

I can’t believe this was 50 years ago.

[Jim]

Prior to the arrival of the two Funny Cars in 1973. Bob Phelps sponsored Dennis ‘Stormin’ Norman’s twin engine Triumph and the ‘Pegasus’ Vincent boys to compete at the 1970 US Nationals at Indianapolis. On their return Bob Phelps asked them their thoughts on bringing an American Top Fuel car over to race at Santa Pod. They had seen the Funny Cars at the US Nationals and suggested to try to get one to come over to England for one of our major events.

[MrNorm]

And now Roland Leong too.........
https://www.competitionplus.com/drag-ra ... ong-passes

[Jim]

More memories of the Funny Cars at Santa Pod in ‘73….
These were the first Funny Cars to arrive in the UK, and everyone wanted them to run side by side. Paula Murphy wasn’t keen on the idea though.. (Don Schumacher was a nutter, he would get on it no matter what). They did pair up just once but Paula let him go and didn’t make a race of it.

When the Americans went home their Funny Cars stayed in the UK. Bob Phelps bought Stardust for Santa Pod and Nobby Hill’s Hound Dog team bought Paula Murphy’s STP car. I heard they approached STP to continue sponsoring the car, but that was turned down.

There’s a lot already gone, and more leaving us nowadays unfortunately. Roland Leong and his Hawaiian Funny Cars were very successful through the 1970’s and 80’s. Roland Leong was always there on the start line guiding his cars into stage.